THE MOST VALUABLE BITTERS BOTTLES

Of all the bottle collecting
categories, bitters bottles are among the top. Many examples command top
prices. This is because bitters collectors like the wide variety, the interesting forms, the wide
range of colors and their historical significance as a uniquely American 19th
century fad. Well-known, even common bitters such as the Indian Queen and the
Ear of Corn bring $300-$500 and much more in odd colors. Cabin Bitters are
especially popular and aside from the Drakes Plantation and a few others they
are harder to find. Barrel bitters come a great variety and color and are still
available but getting pricey.

The most valuable bitters
bottles fall into one of the following categories:

Western – Many Western Bitters command higher prices because of the scarcity.

The least valuable bitters
are the late period aqua bottles some of which are even machine made. The
Atwood's Jaundice Bitters Below is rare because it not only is pontiled age
1845-1855 but it has original label and contents. Amber
square Bitters are common and other than differences in their embossing, they resemble each other
so much
that they tend to bring less.

Pontil Age Atwood's Bitters
Worth $200-300 with Label

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DIGGER
ODELL'S BITTERS BOTTLE PRICE GUIDE 2010

MOST VALUABLE BITTERS BOTTLES

Pontil Age Bryant's Bitters

Pontil Age Coleman's Bitters

Colored Pontil age Bitters
Are among the most valuable.

Drake's Plantation Bitters
common cabin bitters but come in so many great colors. This one
might bring over $4000.00

Holzermann's is one of the
most common cabin bitters.

One of the better Cabins is this

Kelly's are one of the most
desirable cabin bitters.

So called semi-cabins are
also much in demand like this Wahoo Bitters.

Figural Bitters are tops in
many Bitters Collector's book. Like the common Brown's Indian Queen in any
color other than typical amber they sell in the thousands.

National Bitters Ear of
Corn

Simon's Centennial Bitters
often reproduced.

Fisch's Bitters is very
popular and in this color a top bottle.

McKeever's Army Bitters is
as often reproduced.

Many Common Barrels can be
bought for $150-200 but not in this color. Green barrels command
prices ranging from $5000-$18000

Pontiled Franklin Bitters like these are extremely rare and command top
prices.

Barrel Bitters like this
Favorite Bitters are very popular and valuable

COMMON SQUARE BITTERS ARE
(USUALLY) LESS VALUABLE

Square bitters bottles can be found with hundreds of
different embossings. Amber and aqua are the commonly found colors. The
majority were produced after 1880.

Typical square bitters sell from $25-$400

Common amber Hostetter's
Stomach Bitters sell for as little as $20. But the green one above would
bring closer to ten times that amount.

REPRODUCTIONS

Bitters high profile status
has led them to be reproduced in great number. Wheaton and other modern
glass companies have reproduced many of the famous bitters bottles in both large
and miniature sizes. These are often found in fantastic colors which never existed in
the 19th century. To most experienced collectors, the
differences between the new and old are obvious but often the uninitiated can
get fooled.